utor
is remembered, and if he has shown himself discreet about his pupil's
misdeeds, reserved as to his shortcomings, and only moderately rebukeful
as to his faults, such virtue is often rewarded with a bishopric What
have we here, Grace? Is not that a row-boat rounding the point yonder,
and heading into the bay?"

So rare an event might well have caused astonishment; for since the
place had been deserted by the fishermen, the landlocked waters of the
little cove had never seen the track of a boat.

"Who can it be?" continued he; "I see a round hat in the stern-sheets.
Look, he is pointing where they are to land him, quite close to our
door here." Stimulated by an irrepressible curiosity, Herbert arose and
walked out; but scarcely had he reached the strand when he was met by
Colonel Karstairs.

"I could n't trust my gouty ankles down that precipice, doctor," cried
he out; "and although anything but a good sailor, I came round here by
water. What a charming spot you have here, when one does reach it!"

"It is pretty; and it is better,--it is solitary," said Lay-ton,
coldly; for somehow he could not avoid connecting the Colonel with a
scene very painful to his memory.

"I don't think I ever saw anything more beautiful," said Karstairs, as
he gazed around him. "The wild, fantastic outlines of those rocks,
the variegated colors of the heath blossom, the golden strand, and the
cottage itself, make up a fairy scene."

"Let me show you the interior, though it dispel the illusion," said
Layton, as he moved towards the door.

"I hope my visit is not inconvenient," said Karstairs, as he entered and
took a seat; "and I hope, besides, when you hear the object of it, you
will, at least, forgive me." He waited for a reply of some sort, but
Layton only bowed his head stiffly, and suffered him to continue: "I
am a sorry diplomatist, doctor, and have not the vaguest idea of how
to approach a point of any difficulty; but what brought me here this
morning was simply this: you sent that letter"--here he drew one from
his pocket, and handed it to Layton--"to our friend the rector."

"Yes; it is my hand, and I left it myself at the parsonage."

"Well, now, Millar has shown it to no one but myself,--indeed, he placed
it in my hands after reading it; consequently, its contents are unknown
save to our two selves; there can, therefore, be no difficulty in your
withdrawing it You must see that the terms you have employed towards him
ar